Herman Cain is just one more tired example of a dimwit Republican. He’s been saying that he would require Muslims to take a loyalty oath to work in the administration if he were elected president. This violates not only the First Amendment, but also the Constitution’s Article VI, Clause 3: “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Why are so many who claim to worship the Constitution eversomuch just too lazy to read it?

America’s political roots are decidedly liberal. Committing treason, seceding from the British Empire, acknowledging the inherent equality of all MEN, and fighting a revolution for independence were very liberal, radical actions. It is highly unlikely that such liberal founders would write an ultra-conservative document.

The First Amendment’s establishment clause creates the separation of church and state.

I’m very disappointed in Rep. Anthony Weiner for putting himself into such a position. I wish him well and I hope he gets his life back on track. We need people with his ideals in Congress. But I can’t imagine what makes so many men think that any woman wants to get messages like those.

I’m also disappointed in Obama for not closing Guantanamo, not prosecuting the cheneybushers for war crimes, not appointing Elizabeth Warren to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, renewing the “patriot” act, and appeasing the republithugs at every opportunity. Will I vote for him again? You bet.

For 30 years, presidents and Congresses bought Alan Greenspan’s delusion that corporate executives will behave in something resembling a moral fashion, and thus don’t need to be regulated. This inspired our leaders to abdicate their constitutional duty to regulate commerce, leading to massive greed, corruption, and recession. Greenspan personally caused more damage to America and Americans than any other human being.

The Amish have a tradition of shunning community members who break their rules. I thought the practice was barbaric, but now I’m not so sure. Perhaps we should explore this option for conduct unbecoming a human being. I nominate Greenspan for the first spot.

The politically illiterate complain about “big government” controlling everything because they think it really does.

A section of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History honors the heroism, bravery, sacrifice, and camaraderie of US military throughout the centuries and the world. Their Iraq war display appears in the same section with the September 11 display. The description says: “Because of concern about Saddam Hussein’s regime, in March 2003 the United States and its allies launched preemptive strikes in Iraq.” They actually have the audacity to post that lie on the wall. The U.S. went into Iraq because littledick cheney wants more money. And he got it. It’s despicable that so many died for so little.

Your parents, teachers, and counselors lied to you. There is no permanent record that follows you throughout your life. No one knows or cares how many times you had detention in high school. Grow up.

Republithugs have created voter ID laws to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. The United States does not have a problem with unauthorized voting, or people voting multiple times, or illegal immigrants voting. It’s hard enough to get people to vote at all. This is about the republithugs trying, yet again, to SUPPRESS the vote. They’re trying to scare poor people and uneducated people into staying home. THINK ABOUT THIS, PEOPLE. Who benefits from low voter turnout, and keeping these folks away from the polls?

I don’t mind an honest difference of opinion, or a different philosophy of life. I do mind it when people flat out lie and make stuff up.

Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Sloganeering signage has probably put more dents in fenders than in voter opinion. (From a Larry Evans email, 10/26/10)

America doesn’t just happen. The founders did not create a nation to have its citizens abandon it. America doesn’t work unless we all pay attention to it.

Why does the boss deserve to make 500 times more pay than the workers do?

Think back to when you were a kid. Remember the one in the crowd who always whiiiiiiiiined “It’s not fair!” when stuff didn’t go his way. That kid is now a Republican.

Employers can legally refuse to hire people who have red hair, or beards, or who wear blue shirts. Yes, it is discrimination. It is also legal. The only illegal forms of discrimination involve race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age over 40, and disability.

Judging by the way that most people write these days, they should sue their third grade English teachers for malpractice.

Children who are babied grow up to be idiots, or victims, or worse.

The American Medical Association should expel from its membership any “doctor” who works for a health insurance company. It’s a conflict of interest and a violation of the Hippocratic Oath. Doctors are supposed to provide health care. Health insurance companies prevent people from getting health care. I don’t care how many medical schools you went to. If you work for a health insurance company, you are not a doctor.

Published by patomalley

Pat O'Malley is a freelance writer, civics and government instructor, and consultant for nonprofit organizations. With a background in business, economics, and politics, she’s worked as a social service provider, advocate, and lobbyist for nonprofits since the 1980s.
Through her online column, Community Matters, Pat uses the U.S. Constitution and current events to teach American government – civics.
American politics are in turmoil because most Americans don’t understand how their government works. Those who understand how government works know how to influence it. Pat doesn’t report the news. She explains it.
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